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Nonprofits · head to head

GiveSmart vs Handbid

GiveSmart logo

GiveSmart

Nonprofits

Mobile bidding and event fundraising for charity auctions and galas

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Handbid logo

Handbid

Nonprofits

Mobile-first auction and event fundraising platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: GiveSmart licensing is annual while many buyers run a single event a year, so the effective cost per event is far higher than the annual figure makes it look.; Handbid the pricing page publishes no plan, no rate, no minimum and no per-event fee; it states there are no preset tiers and directs every visitor to a pricing consultation
  • They diverge on capability: GiveSmart covers Auction management, Handbid covers Silent auctions.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GiveSmart and Handbid actually diverge.

Attributes where GiveSmart and Handbid differ
AttributeGiveSmartHandbid
Pricing modelquotesubscription
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Nonprofits).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in GiveSmart

  • Auction management
  • Ticketing and check in
  • Text to give
  • Paddle raise and appeals
  • Payment settlement

Only in Handbid

  • Silent auctions
  • Live auctions
  • Fund-a-need
  • Ticketing
  • Salesforce
  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • Mailchimp

Both cover

  • Mobile bidding

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

GiveSmart

  • A hospital or school foundation running an annual gala with a live and silent auctionnot Handbid
  • An organisation losing revenue to uncollected pledges after event nightnot Handbid
  • A charity running several auction events a year that can amortise an annual licencenot Handbid
  • A team wanting bidding, check in and payment settlement handled by one system on the nightnot Handbid

Handbid

  • Mobile bidding for charity and fundraising auctionsnot GiveSmart
  • Event ticketing, registration and check-in with tap to paynot GiveSmart
  • White-labelled online auctions for schools, nonprofits and corporate eventsnot GiveSmart

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

GiveSmart

  • Licensing is annual while many buyers run a single event a year, so the effective cost per event is far higher than the annual figure makes it look.
  • Pricing is not published, and quotes commonly separate the licence, payment processing, hardware and event night staffing, so the first number a buyer sees is rarely the total.
  • On site technical support and equipment are usually extra, and organisations that decline them discover that event night is the worst possible time to be self supporting.
  • It is event software rather than a donor CRM, so guest and bidder data has to be pushed into the CRM afterwards or the relationship built at the gala is not retained.
  • Consolidation under Community Brands means several nominally competing products share an owner, which reduces the negotiating leverage a buyer thinks a shortlist gives them.

Handbid

  • The pricing page publishes no plan, no rate, no minimum and no per-event fee; it states there are no preset tiers and directs every visitor to a pricing consultation
  • There is no self-serve signup path; the only routes offered are Start Chatting, a consultation or a demo booking
  • Because packages are assembled per event, the cost of white-label auctions, text-to-give and support levels is not published

Pricing, plan by plan

GiveSmart

On request
  • GiveSmart$undefined/year
    • Quoted as an annual licence rather than per event
    • Payment processing charged separately on funds raised
    • On site staffing, hardware and additional event support quoted as add ons

Handbid

On request
  • Starter$199/month
    • Basic auction features
    • Up to 50 items
  • Professional$499/month
    • Unlimited items
    • Live streaming
    • Fund-a-need
  • Enterprise$999/month
    • Multi-event license
    • White labeling
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose GiveSmart if

  • You need auction management.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want ticketing and check in.
GiveSmart review

Choose Handbid if

  • You need silent auctions.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want live auctions.
Handbid review

Questions people ask

Is GiveSmart or Handbid better?
Neither clearly leads. GiveSmart starts at On request and Handbid at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GiveSmart or Handbid?
GiveSmart starts at On request and Handbid at On request.
Does GiveSmart or Handbid run on more platforms?
GiveSmart runs on Web, iOS, Android. Handbid runs on Web, IOS, Android.
What is GiveSmart best used for?
GiveSmart is most often used for a hospital or school foundation running an annual gala with a live and silent auction, an organisation losing revenue to uncollected pledges after event night, a charity running several auction events a year that can amortise an annual licence, a team wanting bidding, check in and payment settlement handled by one system on the night. Of those, a hospital or school foundation running an annual gala with a live and silent auction and an organisation losing revenue to uncollected pledges after event night are not what Handbid is typically brought in for.
What can GiveSmart do that Handbid cannot?
GiveSmart covers Auction management, Ticketing and check in, Text to give, Paddle raise and appeals. Handbid covers Silent auctions, Live auctions, Fund-a-need, Ticketing. Both handle Mobile bidding.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

GiveSmart: Is GiveSmart priced per event?

It is normally an annual licence, so organisations running one event a year carry the full cost against one night.

Handbid: How much does Handbid cost?

Handbid does not use standard pricing tiers. Instead, the company provides custom quotes based on your event needs, event volume, and support requirements. Handbid emphasizes no commission on funds raised.

Source
GiveSmart: Who owns GiveSmart?

Community Brands, the private equity backed nonprofit and association software group that also owns MemberClicks.

Handbid: Does Handbid take a commission on auction proceeds?

No. Handbid does not charge a percentage of funds raised. Platform fees are separate from payment processing.

Source
GiveSmart: Does it replace our donor database?

No. It captures bidders and guests at an event and needs to feed a CRM afterwards.

Handbid: What payment processing fees does Handbid charge?

Handbid's payment processing fees are: Visa/Mastercard/Discover 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction, American Express 3.95% + $0.30 per transaction, and ACH 1.5% flat with no per-transaction fee.

Source
GiveSmart: What is the actual benefit over paper bid sheets?

Bidding continues across the room and payment settles before guests leave, which is where paper auctions lose money.

Handbid: What is included in Handbid licenses?

All Handbid licenses include unlimited items, guests, and bidders; all auction formats (silent, live, paddle raise); ticketing and check-in; money handling and reporting; platform updates; and live phone support during events.

Source
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